Chatham University

BACHELOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
In 2010, Chatham established the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment in order to produce leaders in the ever-developing field of environmental studies. Its unique sustainability program for undergraduates allows students to pursue such important concentrations as sustainable technology, natural resource management, sustainable business & management, and sustainable policy & communications. No longer a niche field, sustainability requires focus from excellent scholars who are passionate about the environment’s future. This program takes an interdisciplinary approach in order to analyze the policies, patterns, and social and economical issues related to the plant.

“I knew I was going to write a business plan for Bottle Thread, my sustainable fashion company, anyway, but having the opportunity to do it as my Senior Capstone project under the guidance of a professor meant that I was able to focus more on how to make the company as sustainable as possible.” – Allie Frownfelter ’17

SELF-DESIGNED MAJOR
Understanding that some topics cannot be explored fully through a single lens of thought, Chatham allows students to design their own major through an interdisciplinary combination of courses. Students who create their own major work with an advisor to set their desired learning outcomes and prepare an academic structure that best represents their focus. The self-designed major allows students to delve deeply into topics that may not be common but are nevertheless vital and best understood through a complex combination of lessons.

SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Cooperative education program
Cross-registration
Distance learning
Double major
Dual enrollment
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Exchange student program (domestic)
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships
Liberal arts/career combination
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
Five-year bachelor’s/master’s programs on campus and with other institutions

FUN ON CAMPUS
From Amnesty International to the Outdoor Club, over 60 student organizations help students explore their passions and discover new ones. Sports events, whitewater rafting, bonfires, shopping excursions, plays, concerts, camping—Chatham definitely keeps students busy outside the classroom with lots of events and activities.

CHATHAM DIVERSITY
Diversity Awareness and Celebratory months are taken seriously on Chatham’s campus. Each month, students and faculty bring their attention to marginalized cultures through acts of service and inclusion. Planning committees comprised of both community members and those within the Chatham family organize events that broaden knowledge and challenge stereotypes, celebrating the world’s variety of races, genders, religions, and other identities.

SCHOOL LOCATION
Chatham is located in the middle of Pittsburgh, PA, one of America’s great college towns and a thriving city of 70,000 college students with one of the lowest costs—and highest standards—of living in the country. Pittsburgh is expected to see 50,000 new jobs created within the next ten years, according to “Inflection Point: Supply, Demand and the Future of Work in the Pittsburgh Region” from the Allegheny Conference on Community Development in 2016.

The University’s historic, original Shadyside Campus location is one of the country’s most unique and picturesque urban college campuses. Along with the 39-acre Woodland Road arboretum is Chatham Eastside’s LEED Silver building, which is home to the University’s School of Health Sciences.

Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus, located on 388 acres of rolling woodlands and fields north of Pittsburgh, is where faculty, students, and the public engage in a collaborative, hands-on approach to learning to develop tomorrow’s leaders in sustainability.

ATHLETICS
Chatham offers 18 NCAA Division III sports and competes in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) for all sports except hockey, which competes in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC).

WOMEN: basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track & field, and volleyball
MEN: baseball, basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, squash, swimming & diving, and track & field

RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 87%
Undergraduates: 54%

Campus housing options.
Coed Dorms
Women’s dorms
Apartments for married students
Special housing for international students
Theme housing
Wellness housing

“The research that I’m doing is going to contribute to a comprehensive picture of what Japanese barberry is doing to our forests and give me valuable job skills to keep up with the industry’s demands.” – Trey Turnblacer ’18

ALUMNI MENTORS
Starting at first-year orientation, students are exposed to behind-the-scenes operations at a variety of organizations by alumni, who may also serve as formal and informal mentors, offer shadowing experiences and, in many cases, pave the way for internships and job opportunities.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT
All undergraduate students are required to participate in an internship so that they may gain hands-on experience within their field. Career Advisors work one-on-one with students to provide easy, helpful guidance through every stage of the internship process. With such a great focus on professional success, Career Development is driven to set students up with positions that are relevant and applicable to their prospective careers.

“When I was applying for internships my first year, Career Development helped me tailor my résumé to art galleries. Then when I was applying to marketing internships, it was also international, so they worked with me to tailor it to what Europeans want to see in a student résumé. And it worked—this summer, I’m doing a marketing internship in Dublin.” – Kelly O’Donnell ’19

PATH TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
Students already looking ahead to graduate school can enroll in Chatham’s Integrated Degree Program (IDP). Because graduate schools are already competitive enough, Chatham makes sure that its students are secure in their pursuit for further education. Those who declare an IDP interest are guaranteed admission to a Chatham graduate program and can begin taking graduate classes during their time as undergrads. IDP can save both time and money by awarding both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years total.

Admission

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Application closing date (fall): Aug. 1
Priority date: Mar. 1

ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Rigor of secondary school record

Important
Academic GPA | Application Essay

Considered
Class rank | Standardized test scores | Recommendation(s) | Interview
Extracurricular activities | Talent/ability | Character/personal qualities
Alumni/ae relation | Volunteer work | Work experience | Level of applicant’s interest

FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Composite
25th Percentile: 1060 | 75th Percentile: 1300
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 540 | 75th Percentile: 670
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 530 | 75th Percentile: 640
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 21 | 75th Percentile: 28

Tuition & Cost

Tuition: $39,443
Fees: $1,434
Room: $6,645
Board: $$6,660

Aid

Chatham gives out over $9 million in need- and merit-based financial aid to undergraduate students each year, including the Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award, Heffer Family Scholarship for Women, the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship Program for Women in Global Leadership, and the Barbara Stone Hollander ’60 Student Leadership Award.